1794 folded letter to Goshen, black straightline "Albany Nov. 6" postmark, manuscript "12½" rate (distance of100-150 miles), very fine
The first stage service West of Albany, running on the West side of the Hudson River, began in May 1793, and was operated by Moses Beale. Jason Parker, the former post rider, competed with Beale for this contract, and in 1794 won the mail contract to carry mail from Albany to Goshen. The folded letter was written and signed by Peter W. Yates of Albany. Yates had been a member of Albany's Committee of Correspondence in 1775, a member of the Continental Congress in 1786, and a virulent Anti-Federalist during the debates concerning the ratification of the Constitution.